What role in the community do you think convenience stores should play?

Convenience stores do an excellent job of serving their communities at the pump and in the store, but there is an opportunity to show others the depth of their involvement as neighbors. While their humility is certainly an admirable trait, I think many of these businesses could engage their communities more directly to show the important work they do and role they play. These stores are an important part of any community, yet many consumers see a national brand name and assume it is not a small business owned and operated by someone they may see at the grocery store or dropping their kids off at school. Convenience stores are the cornerstone of many communities and rightfully deserve that distinction.

What does NACS political engagement mean to you, and what benefits have you experienced from being politically engaged?

NACS has been and continues to be an indispensable resource for the California Fuels and Convenience Alliance, allowing us to participate at the federal level through Day on the Hill and keeping us informed of congressional and federal agency actions. Often, our state leads the charge on environmental and labor rule development. Without NACS, we might not have the bandwidth to engage at all levels of government and make our voice heard. NACS provides that invaluable opportunity. As one of our members often says, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”

What federal legislative or regulatory issues keep you up at night?

COVID-19 employment issues aside, I am tracking federal consumer privacy very closely. The California Consumer Privacy Act was passed last year, and the regulatory development and rollout was a nightmare for small businesses, especially those offering loyalty programs. I’d love to see Congress take action to ease some of these burdens and prevent California’s laws on this front from taking hold elsewhere.

What c-store product can you not live without?

Tough to choose just one. My local c-store is two blocks from my home, while the grocery store is a 10-minute drive, so I’m there frequently. I really like the coffee at my local store, and the conversations I get to have with its amazing employees.